Line #12 ComicBook/SupermanRebirth


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superman_vol_4_1_textless.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:320:The Super-Family.]]
3	->''Your parents here on Earth did the best they could, but they didn't understand what it was like for a boy on his way to being a teenager and dealing with...superpowers. With us, Jon's literally got the best of ''both worlds'' to help make sense of it all.''
4	-->-- '''[[ComicBook/LoisLane Lois Smith]]'''
5
6	''Superman (2016)'', or ''Superman (Volume 4)'', is a comic book series published by Creator/DCComics from August 2016 to June 2018. The rebooted sequel series to ''ComicBook/Superman2011'', it was launched as part of the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' branding initiative. The series is written by Creator/PeterTomasi with art by Patrick Gleason.
7
8	At the end of ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'', the ComicBook/New52 Superman died. Luckily, however, there was ''another'' Superman already on Earth: the pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Superman, who had been living secretly on Earth for the past nine years with his wife, Lois, and their half-Kryptonian son, Jon, as detailed in ''ComicBook/SupermanLoisAndClark''.
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10	The series was launched with a Rebirth issue that saw the older Superman bury the ComicBook/New52 Superman and swear to uphold his legacy. While in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', Superman battled a newly revived Doomsday, however, the ''Superman'' book takes a look at the relationship between him and his son, Jonathan, as well as Lois, as they live their lives in secret on a small farm on the outskirts of Metropolis.
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12	The first storyline, "The Son of Superman," deals with Jon's burgeoning powers and the return of the Eradicator. The story later crossed over with ''Action Comics'' for ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn'', a story that addressed both the pre-Flashpoint and New 52 Supermen's statuses.
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14	Superman's "Rebirth" ended in May 2018, with Creator/BrianMichaelBendis --fresh off his decades-long stint at Creator/{{Marvel}}-- taking over writing duties on both ''Action Comics'' (retaining its numbering after issue #1000) and the main ''Superman'' title, relaunching with a new #1 and Ivan Reis on art. See ''ComicBook/Superman2018'' for more info.
15	----
16	!!Storylines in this run that have their own pages:
17	[[index]]
18	* ''ComicBook/SupermanReborn''
19	[[/index]]
20	----
21	!!Tropes included in the fourth volume of ''Superman'':
22	* AbusiveParent: Bizarro Lois and Bizarro frequently beat up, demean and neglect Boyzarro.
23	* AHeroToHisHometown: Superman and Superboy have become this for Hamilton at the end of the series, and are honored with statues of themselves.
24	* AlternateUniverse: "Multiplicity" features Supermen from across the Multiverse teaming-up against a common foe, while "Boyzarro Redeath" features the classic cubed Bizzaro-Earth and the classic Bizzaro.
25	* AllianceOfAlternates: The Supermen in "Multiplicity".
26	* AmbiguouslyEvil: Cobb Branden Kathy's Grandfather seems to give off these vibes [[spoiler: but is just one of Manchester Black's lackeys]].
27	* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:{{Subverted\|Trope}}. At first it appears a laser blast cuts off Lois' leg, but she is actually fine. Manchester Black only made it appear she had lost a leg as a way to further his plan to turn Superboy against his parents.]]
28	* AuthorAppeal: The writers, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, love writing about superheroic fathers and sons, having previously written over 52 issues of ''Batman and Robin''.
29	* AwfulWeddedLife: Bizarro Superman and Lois.
30	* BewareTheSillyOnes: The Legion of Fun from Bizarroworld manages to [[spoiler: capture the Bizarro Leaguers and actually be a solid threat. They even end up indirectly causing the destruction of Bizarro-Earth!]]
31	* BigBadEnsemble: Kalibak, Granny Goodness and the Furies, and Steppenwolf are the main antagonists of "Imperius Lex".
32	* BizarroUniverse: Present in all its backwards glory. This version's existence is tied to Bizarro's emotions, [[spoiler: so when he gets fed up with the place...]]
33	* BrainsAndBrawn: Issue #26 devotes itself to why Superman is not just DumbMuscle, and how he's trying to impart the lessons taught by Jonathan Kent to his son.
34	* BookEnds: The first part of the final arc is Bizzaro version of the first issue.
35	* TheBusCameBack: These aren't the ComicBook/New52 Clark and Lois. These are the post-[[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Crisis]], pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Clark and Lois, who have been married for over a decade and now have a son. [[spoiler: It's recently been implied that the two Supermen and Loises are actually two halves of the same people.]]
36	** [[spoiler: Manchester Black makes his Rebirth debut as well.]]
37	* CerebusRollercoaster: The story arcs vacillate between good-natured whimsy to serious and dramatic, usually starting with the Kents/Smiths living their normal lives, before being interrupted by Superman-level enemies threatening the family. The darkest moment arguably appears in ''Black Dawn'' [[spoiler: when Lois gets her leg cut off]] -- and gets even darker when [[spoiler: Jon is forcibly turned into Superboy Black]].
38	* ClarkKenting: Jon follows in the footsteps of his father, the TropeNamer.
39	* ConfusingMultipleNegatives: "Boyzarro Redeath" has this in spades, as to be expected from Bizarro.
40	* ContinuityNod: In ''Superman Rebirth #1'', Superman and Comicbook/LanaLang explore the Fortress of Solitude and find the message that Post-Flashpoint Superman left to ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} in ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'', entrusting his Fortress and the Earth's protection to his cousin.
41	** Issue 45 (the finale for the Tomasi/Gleason run) has this in spades, including tons of references to the ComicBook/DCRebirth run as a whole
42	* CorruptTheCutie: [[spoiler: Manchester Black's]] goal is to turn Jon into the superbeing ''he'' wants to see, namely a Superman that is willing to kill.
43	* DareToBeBadass: In ''Superman'' #4, Jon's caught between helping his father against the Eradicator and helping protect his mom. He's also wary of using his powers after the death of his cat Goldie. Lois tells him that he has the best of both worlds and he can be great if he chooses to be. He zips up his Superman jacket, solders on Krypto's cape to his coat and charges into battle.
44	* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Krypto. He gets better.]]
45	* DistantFinale: To ''The Just'' and ''The Mastermen'' chapters of ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'' as it reveals that several characters who were in ambiguously perilous situations at the end of those books managed to survive them.
46	* DysfunctionalFamily: The Bizzaros are this in striking contrast to the Kents.
47	* EarnYourHappyEnding: At the end of the series Hamilton has been freed of [[spoiler: the poisonous influence of Manchester Black ]], and has become a refuge for [[spoiler: alien and alternate dimensional refugees like Kathy, Boyzarro, and Robzarro]].
48	* EarthShatteringKaboom: [[spoiler: Bizarro Earth at the end of "Boyzarro-Redeath".]]
49	* EnemyCivilWar: Darkseid's death in ComicBook/DarkseidWar has caused his underlings to fight among themselves for his throne.
50	* EvilCostumeSwitch: [[spoiler: Jon's costume takes on darker colors while he's Superboy Black.]]
51	* ExperiencedProtagonist: In contrast to the younger, greener Superman of the New 52 series, this series features the older, much more seasoned version of Superman from the pre-Flashpoint era getting back into action.
52	* FlashForward: A brief peak into the future shows Damian Wayne in his Batman costume from ''Batman'' #666, Jon as a grown Superboy or possibly Superman, and [[spoiler:Kathy]] alongside them as a superhero.
53	* FullNameUltimatum: In issue #25, [[spoiler: Lois' BFG against Superboy Black.]]
54	* GoodParents: Clark and Lois are protective of their son, but also see the potential and desire within him to become a great superhero. So rather than keep him hidden (which would likely force him to sneak out doing superheroics) or let him completely loose, [[TakeAThirdOption superheroing becomes a family activity for them]]. Clark and Lo have basically taken the lessons learned from Ma and Pa Kent, and taken it to the next level with their son.
55	* GrandFinale: "Superman" #45 is this for the series, focusing on the Kents' last days in Hamilton before they move back to Metropolis. Pretty much every character that played a role in the series makes at least a cameo including [[spoiler: Manchester Black still trapped as a cow.]]
56	* HalfHumanHybrid: Jonathan has heat vision that can hurt his father Superman, yet gets a mild concussion falling from a broken tree branch. It's implied, however, that this is less due to being weaker due to being half human, and more to do with him just starting to develop his powers, so he doesn't have his father's nigh invulnerability just yet. "Black Dawn" reveals that [[spoiler:this isn't the case at all -- an alien creature is purposely suppressing Jon's powers]].
57	* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: [[spoiler: Lex Luthor as of the "Imperius Lex" arc. He tears off the S-shield as a result of Superman's inability to trust that Lex's attempt at heroism is genuine, ultimately returning to villainy]].
58	* HesBack:
59	** At the end of ''Superman'' #6, the world has accepted the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman as this.
60	** At the end of ''Superman'' #25, Lois says, [[spoiler: "Looks like we got our Superboy back."]]
61	* HeelFaceTurn: The Super-Elites may or may not have been TrappedInVillainy by [[spoiler:Manchester Black]], but they consider Hamilton their home, and will rebuild it as part of their amends.
62	* HumiliationConga: After being defeated by Superman and his allies, [[spoiler:Black's]] powers go haywire and [[spoiler:his mind gets transferred into a cow's body]]. For extra humiliation, he attempts to [[spoiler:brainwash]] some teenagers into [[spoiler:giving him some cigarettes]] but they [[spoiler:throw off the mind control]] and throw him onto his side.
63	* KidSidekick: Jon takes on this role to Clark throughout the series.
64	* LegacyCharacter: Jonathan eventually takes the name "Superboy" with Clark's blessing. A FlashForward reveals that Damian becomes Batman and Jon becomes Superman.
65	* LetsYouAndHimFight: The first major encounter between Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne ends with the two kids slugging it out when [[spoiler:Damian keeps taunting Jon over the death of his cat.]]
66	* MamaBear: Don't mess with the pre-''Flashpoint'' Lois Lane and ''do not'' threaten Jon. The Eradicator learns this the hard way when Lois dons Batman's old Hellbat Armor from the ''Robin Rises'' storyline and starts pummeling him.
67	-->'''Lois:''' ''Get your hands off my'' '''''son!'''''
68	* MookFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Cobb turns on Manchester Black when he's about to kill one of his children, calling him a monster.]]
69	* MovingAngst: The Kents decide to move back to Metropolis after deciding that the commute from Hamilton simply isn't feasible anymore (nevermind their recent struggle with Manchester Black). While Clark and Lois are perfectly happy with the arrangement, their son Jon isn't. He simply isn't interested in the wonders of the big city and would much rather stay on a farm with his friends from school. Although he eventually relents, it takes time for him to acclimate to living in Metropolis.
70	* MythologyGag:
71	** The blurb of ''Superman #22'' states, "Superboy wonders [[ComicBook/WhatsSoFunnyAboutTruthJusticeAndTheAmericanWay what is so great about Truth, Justice and the American Way]]" as the comic revisits its themes.
72	** Issue #28 shows the license plate of the rented RV is "[[ComicBook/ActionComics AC1]]-1938".
73	** Robzarro, the Bizarro version of Damian Wayne, has a pencil-thin mustache, just like the evil version of Dick Grayson in the ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' episode "Universe of Evil".
74	* OhCrap: Superman and Lois both have this at the same time from separate locations when Doomsday suddenly departs from fighting Superman, and they realize the other nearest Kryptonian he would sense and go after is Jon.
75	* PapaWolf: Threaten Superboy, you face the Superman. Also inverted, in that Jon often gets to come to his father's rescue as well.
76	-->'''Superman:''' ''(punching Doomsday)'' '''Get away from my son!'''
77	** Superman and Batman both show signs of this at the start of the Trials of the Super Sons arc, with Superman looking to "have a word" with Damian for kidnapping his son and Batman telling Damian to get behind him and grabbing Kryptonite Batarangs ([[CrazyPrepared because of course he had those]]) to protect ''his'' son from a vengeful Kryptonian.
78	* ParentalAbandonment: [[spoiler: Bizarro leaves Boyzarro to die with Bizarroworld.]]
79	* ParentChildTeam: Clark, Lois, and Jon all get in on the superheroics.
80	* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: ''Superman'' #10-11, as ''In the Name of the Father'' storyline serves as a backdoor pilot for Tomasi's ''Super Sons''.
81	* ReformedButRejected: Lex Luthor in the "Imperius Lex" arc. It is Superman's continued mistrust and accusations that prompt Lex to FaceHeelTurn.
82	* RefusalOfTheCall: Up to the end of ''Superman: Rebirth'', the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman doesn't bother donning the red and blues, essentially twiddling his thumbs until the New 52 Superman returns. [[spoiler:When Superman learns that there's no Regeneration Matrix for his New 52 counterpart, he averts it and decides to return to being Superman.]]
83	* ReturningTheWeddingRing: Bride of Frankenstein to her ex-husband. He wears both rings, and proposes again after their adventure with Superman. She gives it back yet again.
84	* SecretSecretKeeper: Kathy Branden witnessed Jon accidentally killing a hawk and his cat with heat vision. She visits the "Smith" household, ostensibly to confirm Jon lives there, but leaves without saying anything about the incident.
85	* ShipperOnDeck: Lois heavily encourages the precocious relationship between Jon and Kathy.
86	* ShoutOut: The ''Multiplicity'' storyline, [[spoiler:where alternate Supermen are being hunted by a multiversal group,]] is very [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent similar in concept to]] ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' from Creator/MarvelComics.
87	* SpaceBase: Batman has a Batcave ''on the moon''.
88	* StealthSequel: Issue 14 and 15 serve as this for ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity''
89	* SuperPoweredEvilSide: [[spoiler: Superboy Black can fly.]]
90	* SuperpowerLottery: Jon inherits all of his father's powers, but has to be trained in their use.
91	* ThouShaltNotKill: [[spoiler: Manchester's goal is to mold Jon into a Superman who doesn't adhere to this.]]
92	* TownWithADarkSecret: Hamilton County seems to this as the series goes on, which leads to WeirdnessMagnet below.
93	* ToxicFriendInfluence: Damian Wayne for Jon. He encourages Jon to sneak out of home, and all around just to not listen to Clark.
94	* TragicKeepsake: Superboy's cape originally belonged to [[spoiler: Krypto, who sacrificed himself by taking the Eradicator's beam meant for Jon]]. Luckily, however, [[spoiler:Krypto wasn't really dead and came back.]]
95	* UnanthropomorphicTransformation: In "Multiplicity", [[Comicbook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew Captain Carrot]] gets transformed into a regular bunny by the Gatherers. He still has his mask and cape though.
96	* UnderestimatingBadassery: The townsfolk find out that Lois can hold her own, what with being a military brat.
97	-->'''Mr. Martinez:''' ''(seriously dazed)'' She's a bit more well-armed than we originally thought.
98	* VillainousRescue: Superman gets possessed by Parallax and it's up to ComicBook/{{Sinestro}} to drag the monster out of him.
99	* WeirdnessMagnet: {{Deconstructed}} by Lois in issue #22. It's no fun to be one when all you want is a ''little normality once in a while''.
100	-->'''Lois:''' [[ShoutOut Someone always wants to watch the world burn.]]
101	** {{Averted\|Trope}} in ''Superman'' #27, where the worst challenge the Kent Family has to face while on vacation across the East Coast is getting a dickish waitress to allow them to invite a homeless veteran to their table at a Philadelphia restaurant.
102	* WhamShot:
103	** [[spoiler: Kathy revealing her telekinesis by telepathically holding Damian by the throat and choking him]].
104	** At the end of ''Superman'' #24, [[spoiler: Superboy Black]].
105	* WhatYouAreInTheDark: In ''Superman'' #2, Superman explained his son that wearing the S-shield means doing the right thing even when you think no one is looking.
106	-->'''Superman:''' I'm afraid someday soon -- too soon -- you will have to pick it up and embrace the "S" for yourself. It's not about our powers, or strength, or heat vision. It's about character. It means doing the right thing when no one else will, even when you're scared... even when you think no one is looking.
107	* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Superman has a vision of a BadFuture in which an adult Jonathan kills him, saying he was never home for him.

Context ComicBook / SupermanRebirth